Research Proposal Presentation

25 Jan 2016

Nancy Lees

Abstract

Is it possible to prevent suicidal influences by taking preemptive measures? According to last week’s research learning team A was able to identify mental illness, socioeconomic pressures, marital status, family history of suicide, and media influences as major contributions to our nation’s suicide rates. If preemptive measures are taken to minimize or address these influences then national suicide rates will decrease. Our groups hypotheses is as follows: If preemptive measures are implemented to minimize or address the following suicidal influences; mental illness, socioeconomic pressures, discontentment with marital status and family history of suicide then the national suicide rate will decrease. This paper will explain in detail the method by which we plan to conduct a study to prove our hypothesis.

Sampling Method

In psychology, the purpose for sampling is to collect data from a target population. A target population is a portion of the total population that is in possession of something of interest. For the research project of this group, the target population consists of individuals of all age’s races and classes who are associated with suicide: those who are undergoing the mentality of suicide, those who have a history of exhibiting suicidal behaviors and those who have attempted suicide. With this research’s sampling method, it is important to stray away from sampling bias. The sampling method that would be ideal versus convenient would be the following: volunteer sampling versus opportunity sampling. Sampling bias happens when the data does not reflect the target population (McLeod, 2014). An example of this would be of psychology studies where universities used an opportunity sampling method that only comprises of their students. Opportunity sampling would be selecting individuals who are available at that particular moment in time (McLeod, 2014). This method, though convenient and quick, will not correctly represent the target population.

The ideal sampling method that this research project would use is volunteer sampling. According to McLeod (2014), this method occurs when individuals choose themselves to be involved with a study. This sampling method would advertise for individuals of any and all demographics, later categorizing the demographics by age and by race for reaching more specified data. This advertisement would consist of a survey that is available nationwide all hours of the day— convenient to the target population, having different work hours or hours of operation. The reason why this method would be ideal is that this method, though convenient, is also ethical for it having informed consent.

Definitions of your variables

According to Elmes, 2012, variables are the gears and cogs that make experiments run. Effective selection and manipulation of variables make the difference between a good experiment and a poor one (Pg. 159). In accordance to the hypothesis used to determine if it’s possible to prevent suicidal influences by taking preemptive measures the variables in accordance to the study would be independent and dependent variables. The Independent variables are manipulated by the experimenter (Pg. 160). In this case, the experimenter would take half of the sample population and use some preemptive measure to specifically address any and all of the influences identified as an influence to suicidal tendencies and observe to see if suicidal behaviors are still present. Independent variables are selected because an experimenter thinks they cause changes in behavior. The independent variables would be the tools used to address suicidal influences. The Dependent variable will be the suicidal behaviors. Only half the population will receive the independent variables and all observations will be recorded to observe the current suicidal behaviors in both the experiment and control group. In addition, a controlled variable is a potential independent variable that is held constant during an experiment (Pg. 161). Yet, this variable would not work for this study because “for any experiment, there are more desirable control variables than can ever be controlled in practice” (Pg.161). This variable cannot be controlled because there is many factors, which influence the variable and the examiner cant, control these factors. As a result, independent and dependent variables will be imperative in conducting the study to provide preemptive measures to avoid suicidal influences.

Descriptive verses inferential statistics

Descriptive statistics are for describing trends to a single variable (Creswell, 2012). This would mean that we needed specific statistics like the mean, median, mode, average, and range. In our study however, we will not have data that will display any type of descriptive numbers or statistics that will lead to answering our question which is, “Is it possible to prevent suicidal influences by taking preemptive measures?” For this study we will be using inferential statistics because we are trying to infer from our data what could decrease national suicide rates.

Inferential statistics are for inferring information from small amounts of data not on just one person or group, but on multiple groups and populations. We will be observing the behaviors of everyone who’s behavior or behavior history is associated with suicide. Our study will be using inferential statics due to the fact that we are going to be using small sample or data sizes to infer whether or not taking preemptive measures on suicide influences will help a population of people. The closest we will get to descriptive statistics will be knowing the national suicide rates which could help us better understand our study.

Operationalizing Variables

When in a study, one wishes to find measures through which they can operationalize a variable, there is need to understand some few factors (Raider, 2002).Variables are operationalized when they are measurable, quantifiable, and have valid index being either independent and dependent variables. There is also need to know how to manipulate the variable to another level.

Considering the case study about suicide in the quoted study, there is need to identify the concept. In this case, we will identify the behaviors exhibited by the experimental group. The intelligence in this case is measured to determine if the experimental group decreases the frequency in demonstration of behaviors that are indicative of being suicidal.

The second measure of operationalizing the variables is to make a qualitative measures. In this case we are making a qualitative measure using the media. Since suicides have been known to increase with media influence this measure will be important in having suicide study complete. We will also make demographic measures and mental illness using IQ measures as (Raider, 2002) explains.

The third factor is to describe the method of taking the measure. We can do this by doing surveys to know how many suicidal people have been able to implement preemptive measures to prevent themselves from being a suicide victim. We can also do interviews so that we can take data for the same people.

In making a completion of operationalizing independent and dependent variable, we need to know techniques. These techniques are used when we have had a hypothesis about an issue. Some of these techniques are the following; Literature search, Self-Report, Expert observation and Checklist observation (Raider, 2002). This techniques are done to complement the qualitative measures and then make conclusions.

Conclusion

We took a population of people associated with suicide and used an experimental group to implement preemptive measures that address the factors that contributed to their suicidal behaviors. Assuming our hypothesis is correct there will be no change in the behaviors of the control group, which would be those associated with suicided who were not exposed to any preemptive measures, and experimental group would progress by the significantly showing less signs of being suicidal.

References

Center for Disease Control and Prevention. (2015). Suicide and Self-Inflicted Injury. Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/suicide.htm

Creswell, W. J. (2012). Educational Research: Planning, Conducting, and Evaluating Quantitative

and Qualitative Research (4th ed.). Retrieved from 

https://newclassroom3.phoenix.edu/Classroom/#/contextid/OSIRIS:49705887/context/co/vie

w/activityDetails/activity/4e8be483-b896-4932-87b0-9dcbbb6bded0/expanded/False 

Elmes, D.G., Kantowitz, B.H. & Roediger, III. H.L. (2012). Basics of Experimentation. Research

Methods in Psychology. Ninth Edition.

McLeod, S. A. (2014). Sampling Methods. Retrieved from www.simplypsychology.org/sampling.html

Raider, J. (2002). Operationalizing Variables. New York: Springer.

United States Census Bureau. (2016). U.S. and World Population Clock. Retrieved from http://www.census.gov/popclock/